Chapter 292: Clenched Fist

【System detects gunfire and glass breaking sounds in the hospital area. Suggest host go to investigate.】

When the cold, mechanical voice sounded in Lin Chen's mind, he was walking to the hospital gate,

mud stains from the snow still on his feet. Xia Nuan followed behind him,

still clutching that pair of briefs that hadn't been given away; seeing him stop, she also paused her steps.

Lin Chen did not look back, nor did he step into the hospital gate, just stood in place, listening to the movement inside. The gunfire was very muffled,

only one shot, as if it had come through a thick door panel, followed immediately by the crisp sound of glass breaking, the clattering sound echoing in the empty hospital, exceptionally clear.

【System prompt: Abnormal energy fluctuations inside the hospital, matching A-Nian's residual healing energy.】

Lin Chen's brows furrowed slightly; he could tell the source of the gunfire,

it was the direction of the medical room, the sound of the gun in Lin Hao's hand. He remembered the gun he had left on the bedside table before he left, remembered the six bullets in the cylinder, remembered Lin Hao's calm eyes, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Just then, a violent vibration suddenly came from his chest—not a heartbeat, but the family seal. That seal had been in a dormant state ever since Chu Yao's voice sounded, but at this moment, it was as if it had been activated by something, jumping wildly, carrying a scorching heat that flowed through his blood throughout his body.

A line of clear text appeared directly in his mind, without the system's mechanical voice, only the cold, hard font inherent to the seal: 【Blood relative choice: Survival. Regret intensity: MAX. Hostility: 0】

Lin Chen's body stiffened suddenly, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. Blood relative, it was Lin Hao. Choice of survival, it was Lin Hao not aiming the last bullet at himself. Regret intensity MAX, it was Lin Hao letting go of all his past obsessions. Hostility 0, it was Lin Hao truly letting go.

He remembered snatching Lin Hao's biscuits when he was a child, remembered the harsh words he had said to Lin Hao after he darkened, and remembered the ruthlessness he felt when he locked the infirmary iron door; his heart felt as if it were blocked by something, stifling and frantic.

【System detects the host's emotions are fluctuating violently; the probability of the darkened personality awakening has increased to 10%.】

"What are you pretending for?" the darkened Lin Chen's voice suddenly exploded in his mind, carrying heavy mockery, "So what if he's alive? Can you have peace of mind just because he's alive? Why didn't you think he would survive when you locked the door?"

Lin Chen said nothing, just clenched his teeth tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

"Don't think he has forgiven you," the darkened Lin Chen continued to curse, "He just didn't want to die, he just wanted to live; it has nothing to do with you! Stop being so self-righteous here!"

"You think you can make up for anything by clenching your fists now? It's too late! The things you did to him can never be made up for in a lifetime!"

"He jumped out the window and ran away now; maybe he hates you to death already. What hostility 0, it's all a lie! It's the system comforting you, you idiot!"

"What's the use of you stopping your steps? You don't dare to go in, you don't dare to face him; you are just a shrinking turtle!"

"Even if he is alive, he is a burden; sooner or later he will be eaten by zombies. Just wait and see!"

Lin Chen's breathing became more and more rapid, the family seal on his chest still vibrating violently, that line of text as if carved into his mind, unable to be shaken off. He could hear the roaring of zombies coming from inside the hospital, could hear the crunching sound of glass shards being stepped on, could hear the sound of Lin Hao's footsteps as he might have run far away.

Xia Nuan stood behind him, gently tugging at the hem of his clothes, but said nothing. She could feel that Lin Chen's emotions were not right, could feel the oppressive aura emanating from him.

【System prompt: Zombie horde inside the hospital has been lured away. Blood relative's movement trajectory is stable, approaching the direction of the safe zone.】

"Did you hear that? He ran away; he never thought about looking for you at all!" the darkened Lin Chen's voice carried a trace of triumph, "He can't wait to be as far away from you as possible; why are you still standing there like a fool?"

Lin Chen still did not look back, his gaze falling on the iron railings of the hospital gate, falling on the dim corridor behind the railings. He could imagine the resoluteness when Lin Hao jumped out the window, could imagine the wretchedness when Lin Hao landed, could imagine the footsteps when Lin Hao ran toward the safe zone.

He slowly raised his hand and clenched his fist tightly. His knuckles turned white from the force, the veins on his arm bulging one by one, carrying a power suppressed to the extreme.

"What's the use of clenching your fists? You can't fight zombies, and you can't fight yourself; you're just a piece of trash!" the darkened Lin Chen continued to curse, his voice becoming increasingly sharp.

Lin Chen ignored it; he just stood in place, with his back to the hospital, with his back to Xia Nuan, with his back to the cursing in his mind. His fist clenched tighter and tighter, as if he wanted to hold all the regret, all the guilt, all the emotions, firmly in his hand.

A faint sound of footsteps came from afar, drawing closer and closer, as if someone was walking over, stepping on the snow. Lin Chen's ears twitched, but he still did not look back. ===== CHAPTER 293 =====